Exodus 24:1-18 King James Version (KJV)

¹ And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.

² And Moses alone shall come near the LORD: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him.

³ And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.

⁴ And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.

⁵ And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the LORD.

⁶ And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basins; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.

⁷ And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.

⁸ And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.

⁹ Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:

¹⁰ And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.

¹¹ And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.

¹² And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

¹³ And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.

¹⁴ And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them.

¹⁵ And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.

¹⁶ And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.

¹⁷ And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.

¹⁸ And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.

Exodus 24:1-18 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

¹ And he said ^H559 unto Moses, ^H4872 Come up ^H5927 unto the LORD, ^H3068 thou, and Aaron, ^H175 Nadab, ^H5070 and Abihu, ^H30 and seventy ^H7657 of the elders ^H2205 of Israel; ^H3478 and worship ^H7812 ye afar off. ^H7350

² And Moses ^H4872 alone shall come near ^H5066 the LORD: ^H3068 but they shall not come nigh; ^H5066 neither shall the people ^H5971 go up ^H5927 with him.

³ And Moses ^H4872 came ^H935 and told ^H5608 the people ^H5971 all the words ^H1697 of the LORD, ^H3068 and all the judgments: ^H4941 and all the people ^H5971 answered ^H6030 with one ^H259 voice, ^H6963 and said, ^H559 All the words ^H1697 which the LORD ^H3068 hath said ^H1696 will we do. ^H6213

⁴ And Moses ^H4872 wrote ^H3789 all the words ^H1697 of the LORD, ^H3068 and rose up early ^H7925 in the morning, ^H1242 and builded ^H1129 an altar ^H4196 under ^H8478 the hill, ^H2022 and twelve pillars, ^H4676 according to the twelve ^H8147 ^H6240 tribes ^H7626 of Israel. ^H3478

⁵ And he sent ^H7971 young men ^H5288 of the children ^H1121 of Israel, ^H3478 which offered ^H5927 burnt offerings, ^H5930 and sacrificed ^H2076 peace ^H8002 offerings ^H2077 of oxen ^H6499 unto the LORD. ^H3068

⁶ And Moses ^H4872 took ^H3947 half ^H2677 of the blood, ^H1818 and put ^H7760 it in basons; ^H101 and half ^H2677 of the blood ^H1818 he sprinkled ^H2236 on the altar. ^H4196

⁷ And he took ^H3947 the book ^H5612 of the covenant, ^H1285 and read ^H7121 in the audience ^H241 of the people: ^H5971 and they said, ^H559 All that the LORD ^H3068 hath said ^H1696 will we do, ^H6213 and be obedient. ^H8085

⁸ And Moses ^H4872 took ^H3947 the blood, ^H1818 and sprinkled ^H2236 it on the people, ^H5971 and said, ^H559 Behold the blood ^H1818 of the covenant, ^H1285 which the LORD ^H3068 hath made ^H3772 with you concerning all these words. ^H1697

⁹ Then went up ^H5927 Moses, ^H4872 and Aaron, ^H175 Nadab, ^H5070 and Abihu, ^H30 and seventy ^H7657 of the elders ^H2205 of Israel: ^H3478

¹⁰ And they saw ^H7200 the God ^H430 of Israel: ^H3478 and there was under his feet ^H7272 as it were a paved ^H3840 work ^H4639 of a sapphire stone, ^H5601 and as it were the body ^H6106 of heaven ^H8064 in his clearness. ^H2892

¹¹ And upon the nobles ^H678 of the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 he laid ^H7971 not his hand: ^H3027 also they saw ^H2372 God, ^H430 and did eat ^H398 and drink. ^H8354

¹² And the LORD ^H3068 said ^H559 unto Moses, ^H4872 Come up ^H5927 to me into the mount, ^H2022 and be there: and I will give ^H5414 thee tables ^H3871 of stone, ^H68 and a law, ^H8451 and commandments ^H4687 which I have written; ^H3789 that thou mayest teach ^H3384 them.

¹³ And Moses ^H4872 rose up, ^H6965 and his minister ^H8334 Joshua: ^H3091 and Moses ^H4872 went up ^H5927 into the mount ^H2022 of God. ^H430

¹⁴ And he said ^H559 unto the elders, ^H2205 Tarry ^H3427 ye here ^H2088 for us, until we come again ^H7725 unto you: and, behold, Aaron ^H175 and Hur ^H2354 are with you: if any ^H4310 man ^H1167 have any matters ^H1697 to do, ^H1167 let him come ^H5066 unto them.

¹⁵ And Moses ^H4872 went up ^H5927 into the mount, ^H2022 and a cloud ^H6051 covered ^H3680 the mount. ^H2022

¹⁶ And the glory ^H3519 of the LORD ^H3068 abode ^H7931 upon mount ^H2022 Sinai, ^H5514 and the cloud ^H6051 covered ^H3680 it six ^H8337 days: ^H3117 and the seventh ^H7637 day ^H3117 he called ^H7121 unto Moses ^H4872 out of the midst ^H8432 of the cloud. ^H6051

¹⁷ And the sight ^H4758 of the glory ^H3519 of the LORD ^H3068 was like devouring ^H398 fire ^H784 on the top ^H7218 of the mount ^H2022 in the eyes ^H5869 of the children ^H1121 of Israel. ^H3478

¹⁸ And Moses ^H4872 went ^H935 into the midst ^H8432 of the cloud, ^H6051 and gat him up ^H5927 into the mount: ^H2022 and Moses ^H4872 was in the mount ^H2022 forty ^H705 days ^H3117 and forty ^H705 nights. ^H3915

Exodus 24:1-18 American Standard (ASV)

¹ And he said unto Moses, Come up unto Jehovah, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off:

² and Moses alone shall come near unto Jehovah; but they shall not come near; neither shall the people go up with him.

³ And Moses came and told the people all the words of Jehovah, and all the ordinances: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which Jehovah hath spoken will we do.

⁴ And Moses wrote all the words of Jehovah, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the mount, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.

⁵ And he sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt-offerings, and sacrificed peace-offerings of oxen unto Jehovah.

⁶ And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basins; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.

⁷ And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that Jehovah hath spoken will we do, and be obedient.

⁸ And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which Jehovah hath made with you concerning all these words.

⁹ Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel.

¹⁰ And they saw the God of Israel; and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and as it were the very heaven for clearness.

¹¹ And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: and they beheld God, and did eat and drink.

¹² And Jehovah said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee the tables of stone, and the law and the commandment, which I have written, that thou mayest teach them.

¹³ And Moses rose up, and Joshua his minister: and Moses went up into the mount of God.

¹⁴ And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: whosoever hath a cause, let him come near unto them.

¹⁵ And Moses went up into the mount, and the cloud covered the mount.

¹⁶ And the glory of Jehovah abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.

¹⁷ And the appearance of the glory of Jehovah was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.

¹⁸ And Moses entered into the midst of the cloud, and went up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.

Exodus 24:1-18 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

¹ And unto Moses He said, `Come up unto Jehovah, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and ye have bowed yourselves afar off;'

² and Moses hath drawn nigh by himself unto Jehovah; and they draw not nigh, and the people go not up with him.

³ And Moses cometh in, and recounteth to the people all the words of Jehovah, and all the judgments, and all the people answer -- one voice, and say, `All the words which Jehovah hath spoken we do.'

⁴ And Moses writeth all the words of Jehovah, and riseth early in the morning, and buildeth an altar under the hill, and twelve standing pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel;

⁵ and he sendeth the youths of the sons of Israel, and they cause burnt-offerings to ascend, and sacrifice sacrifices of peace-offerings to Jehovah -- calves.

⁶ And Moses taketh half of the blood, and putteth in basins, and half of the blood hath he sprinkled on the altar;

⁷ and he taketh the Book of the Covenant, and proclaimeth in the ears of the people, and they say, `All that which Jehovah hath spoken we do, and obey.'

⁸ And Moses taketh the blood, and sprinkleth on the people, and saith, `Lo, the blood of the covenant which Jehovah hath made with you, concerning all these things.'

⁹ And Moses goeth up, Aaron also, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel,

¹⁰ and they see the God of Israel, and under His feet `is' as the white work of the sapphire, and as the substance of the heavens for purity;

¹¹ and unto those of the sons of Israel who are near He hath not put forth His hand, and they see God, and eat and drink.

¹² And Jehovah saith unto Moses, `Come up unto Me to the mount, and be there, and I give to thee the tables of stone, and the law, and the command, which I have written to direct them.'

¹³ And Moses riseth -- Joshua his minister also -- and Moses goeth up unto the mount of God;

¹⁴ and unto the elders he hath said, `Abide ye for us in this `place', until that we turn back unto you, and lo, Aaron and Hur `are' with you -- he who hath matters doth come nigh unto them.'

¹⁵ And Moses goeth up unto the mount, and the cloud covereth the mount;

¹⁶ and the honour of Jehovah doth tabernacle on mount Sinai, and the cloud covereth it six days, and He calleth unto Moses on the seventh day from the midst of the cloud.

¹⁷ And the appearance of the honour of Jehovah `is' as a consuming fire on the top of the mount, before the eyes of the sons of Israel;

¹⁸ and Moses goeth into the midst of the cloud, and goeth up unto the mount, and Moses is on the mount forty days and forty nights.

Exodus 24:1-18 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

¹ And he said to Moses, Go up to Jehovah, thou and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship afar off.

² And let Moses alone come near Jehovah; but they shall not come near; neither shall the people go up with him.

³ And Moses came and told the people all the words of Jehovah, and all the judgments; and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words that Jehovah has said will we do!

⁴ And Moses wrote all the words of Jehovah, and rose up early in the morning, and built an altar under the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.

⁵ And he sent the youths of the children of Israel, and they offered up burnt-offerings, and sacrificed sacrifices of peace-offering of bullocks to Jehovah.

⁶ And Moses took half the blood, and put [it] in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.

⁷ And he took the book of the covenant, and read [it] in the ears of the people; and they said, All that Jehovah has said will we do, and obey!

⁸ And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled [it] on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant that Jehovah has made with you concerning all these words.

⁹ And Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up;

¹⁰ and they saw the God of Israel; and there was under his feet as it were work of transparent sapphire, and as it were the form of heaven for clearness.

¹¹ And on the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: they saw God, and ate and drank.

¹² And Jehovah said to Moses, Come up to me into the mountain, and be there; and I will give thee the tables of stone, and the law, and the commandment that I have written, for their instruction.

¹³ And Moses rose up, and Joshua his attendant; and Moses went up to the mountain of God.

¹⁴ And he said to the elders, Wait here for us, until we return to you; and behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matter, let him come before them.

¹⁵ And Moses went up to the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.

¹⁶ And the glory of Jehovah abode on mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days; and on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.

¹⁷ And the appearance of the glory of Jehovah was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain, before the eyes of the children of Israel.

¹⁸ And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and ascended the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Exodus 24:1-18 World English Bible (WEB)

¹ He said to Moses, "Come up to Yahweh, you, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship from a distance.

² Moses alone shall come near to Yahweh, but they shall not come near, neither shall the people go up with him."

³ Moses came and told the people all the words of Yahweh, and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, and said, "All the words which Yahweh has spoken will we do."

⁴ Moses wrote all the words of Yahweh, and rose up early in the morning, and built an altar under the mountain, and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.

⁵ He sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace-offerings of oxen to Yahweh.

⁶ Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.

⁷ He took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people, and they said, "All that Yahweh has spoken will we do, and be obedient."

⁸ Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, "Look, this is the blood of the covenant, which Yahweh has made with you concerning all these words."

⁹ Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up.

¹⁰ They saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was like a paved work of sapphire{or, lapis lazuli} stone, like the skies for clearness.

¹¹ He didn't lay his hand on the nobles of the children of Israel. They saw God, and ate and drank.

¹² Yahweh said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain, and stay here, and I will give you the tables of stone with the law and the commands that I have written, that you may teach them."

¹³ Moses rose up with Joshua, his servant, and Moses went up onto God's Mountain.

¹⁴ He said to the elders, "Wait here for us, until we come again to you. Behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever is involved in a dispute can go to them."

¹⁵ Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.

¹⁶ The glory of Yahweh settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. The seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.

¹⁷ The appearance of the glory of Yahweh was like devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel.

¹⁸ Moses entered into the midst of the cloud, and went up on the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Exodus 24:1-18 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

¹ And he said to Moses, Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, and Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the chiefs of Israel; and give me worship from a distance.

² And Moses only may come near to the Lord; but the others are not to come near, and the people may not come up with them.

³ Then Moses came and put before the people all the words of the Lord and his laws: and all the people, answering with one voice, said, Whatever the Lord has said we will do.

⁴ Then Moses put down in writing all the words of the Lord, and he got up early in the morning and made an altar at the foot of the mountain, with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.

⁵ And he sent some of the young men of the children of Israel to make burned offerings and peace-offerings of oxen to the Lord.

⁶ And Moses took half the blood and put it in basins; draining out half of the blood over the altar.

⁷ And he took the book of the agreement, reading it in the hearing of the people: and they said, Everything which the Lord has said we will do, and we will keep his laws.

⁸ Then Moses took the blood and let it come on the people, and said, This blood is the sign of the agreement which the Lord has made with you in these words.

⁹ Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the chiefs of Israel went up:

¹⁰ And they saw the God of Israel; and under his feet there was, as it seemed, a jewelled floor, clear as the heavens.

¹¹ And he put not his hand on the chiefs of the children of Israel: they saw God, and took food and drink.

¹² And the Lord said to Moses, Come up to me on the mountain, and take your place there: and I will give you the stones on which I have put in writing the law and the orders, so that you may give the people knowledge of them.

¹³ Then Moses and Joshua his servant got up; and Moses went up into the mountain of God.

¹⁴ And he said to the chiefs, Keep your places here till we come back to you: Aaron and Hur are with you; if anyone has any cause let him go to them.

¹⁵ And Moses went up into the mountain, and it was covered by the cloud.

¹⁶ And the glory of the Lord was resting on Mount Sinai, and the cloud was over it for six days; and on the seventh day he said Moses' name out of the cloud.

¹⁷ And the glory of the Lord was like a flame on the top of the mountain before the eyes of the children of Israel.

¹⁸ And Moses went up the mountain, into the cloud, and was there for forty days and forty nights.

Commentary on Exodus 24 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill Keil & Delitzsch Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Chapter 24

Moses, as mediator between God and Israel, having received divers laws and ordinances from God privately in the three foregoing chapters, in this chapter,

I. Comes down to the people, acquaints them with the laws he had received, and takes their consent to those laws (v. 3), writes the laws, and reads them to the people, who repeat their consent (v. 4-7), and then by sacrifice, and the sprinkling of blood, ratifies the covenant between them and God (v. 5, 6, 8).
II. He returns to God again, to receive further directions. When he was dismissed from his former attendance, he was ordered to attend again (v. 1, 2). He did so with seventy of the elders, to whom God made a discovery of his glory (v. 9-11). Moses is ordered up into the mount (v. 12, 13); the rest are ordered down to the people (v. 14). The cloud of glory is seen by all the people on the top of mount Sinai (v. 15-17), and Moses is therewith God forty days and forty nights (v. 18).

Exd 24:1-8

The first two verses record the appointment of a second session upon mount Sinai, for the making of laws, when an end was put to the first. When a communion is begun between God and us, it shall never fail on his side, if it do not first fail on ours. Moses is directed to bring Aaron and his sons, and the seventy elders of Israel, that they might be witnesses of the glory of God, and that communion with him to which Moses was admitted; and that their testimony might confirm the people's faith. In this approach,

1. They must all be very reverent: Worship you afar off, v. 1. Before they came near, they must worship. Thus we must enter into God's gates with humble and solemn adorations, draw near as those that know our distance, and admire the condescensions of God's grace in admitting us to draw near. Are great princes approached with the profound reverences of the body? And shall not the soul that draws near to God be bowed before him?
2. They must none of them come so near as Moses, v. 2. They must come up to the Lord (and those that would approach to God must ascend), but Moses alone must come near, being therein a type of Christ, who, as the high priest, entered alone into the most holy place.

In the following verses, we have the solemn covenant made between God and Israel, and the exchanging of the ratifications; and a very solemn transaction it was, typifying the covenant of grace between God and believers through Christ.

I. Moses told the people the words of the Lord, v. 3. He did not lead them blindfold into the covenant, nor teach them a devotion that was the daughter of ignorance; but laid before them all the precepts, general and particular, in the foregoing chapters; and fairly put it to them whether they were willing to submit to these laws or no.
II. The people unanimously consented to the terms proposed, without reservation or exception: All the words which the Lord hath said will we do. They had before consented in general to be under God's government (ch. 19:8); here they consent in particular to these laws now given. O that there had been such a heart in them! How well were it if people would but be always in the same good mind that sometimes they seem to be in! Many consent to the law, and yet do not live up to it; they have nothing to except against it, and yet will not persuade themselves to be ruled by it.

This is the tenour of the covenant, That, if they would observe the foregoing precepts, God would perform the foregoing promises. "Obey, and be happy.' Here is the bargain made. Observe,

1. How it was engrossed in the book of the covenant: Moses wrote the words of the Lord (v. 4), that there might be no mistake; probably he had written them as God dictated them on the mount. As soon as ever God had separated to himself a peculiar people in the world, he governed them by a written word, as he has done ever since, and will do while the world stands and the church in it. Moses, having engrossed the articles of agreement concluded upon between God and Israel, read them in the audience of the people (v. 7), that they might be perfectly apprised of the thing, and might try whether their second thoughts were the same with their first, upon the whole matter. And we may suppose they were so; for their words (v. 7) are the same with what they were (v. 3), but something stronger: All that the Lord hath said (be it good, or be it evil, to flesh and blood, Jer. 42:6) we will do; so they had said before, but now they add, "And will be obedient; not only we will do what has been commanded, but in every thing which shall further be ordained we will be obedient.' Bravely resolved! if they had but stuck to their resolution. See here that God's covenants and commands are so incontestably equitable in themselves, and so highly advantageous to us, that the more we think of them, and the more plainly and fully they are set before us, the more reason we shall see to comply with them.
2. How it was sealed by the blood of the covenant, that Israel might receive strong consolations from the ratifying of God's promises to them, and might lie under strong obligations from the ratifying of their promises to God. Thus has Infinite Wisdom devised means that we may be confirmed both in our faith and in our obedience, may be both encouraged in our duty and engaged to it. The covenant must be made by sacrifice (Ps. 50:5), because, since man has sinned, and forfeited his Creator's favour, there can be no fellowship by covenant till there be first friendship and atonement by sacrifice.
- (1.) In preparation therefore for the parties interchangeably putting their seals to this covenant,
  - [1.] Moses builds an altar, to the honour of God, which was principally intended in all the altars that were built, and which was the first thing to be looked at in the covenant they were now to seal. No addition to the perfections of the divine nature can be made by any of God's dealings with the children of men, but in them his perfections are manifested and magnified, and his honour is shown forth; therefore he will not be represented by an altar, to signify that all he expected from them was that they should do him honour, and that, being his people, they should be to him for a name and a praise.
  - [2.] He erects twelve pillars, according to the number of the tribes. These were to represent the people, the other party to the covenant; and we may suppose that they were set up against the altar, and that Moses, as mediator, passed to and fro between them. Probably each tribe set up and knew its own pillar, and their elders stood by it.
  - [3.] He appointed sacrifices to be offered upon the altar (v. 5), burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, which yet were designed to be expiatory. We are not concerned to enquire who these young men were that were employed in offering these sacrifices; for Moses was himself the priest, and what they did was purely as his servants, by his order and appointment. No doubt they were men who by their bodily strength were qualified for the service, and by their station among the people were fittest for the honour.
- (2.) Preparation being thus made, the ratifications were very solemnly exchanged.
  - [1.] The blood of the sacrifice which the people offered was (part of it) sprinkled upon the altar (v. 6), which signifies the people's dedicating themselves, their lives, and beings, to God, and to his honour. In the blood (which is the life) of the dead sacrifices all the Israelites were presented unto God as living sacrifices, Rom. 12:1.
  - [2.] The blood of the sacrifice which God had owned and accepted was (the remainder of it) sprinkled either upon the people themselves (v. 8) or upon the pillars that represented them, which signified God's graciously conferring his favour upon them and all the fruits of that favour, and his giving them all the gifts they could expect or desire from a God reconciled to them and in covenant with them by sacrifice. This part of the ceremony was thus explained: "Behold the blood of the covenant; see here how God has sealed to you to be a people; his promises to you, and yours to him, are both yea and amen.' Thus our Lord Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant (of whom Moses was a type), having offered up himself a sacrifice upon the cross, that his blood might be indeed the blood of the covenant, sprinkled it upon the altar in his intercession (Heb. 9:12), and sprinkles it upon his church by his word and ordinances and the influences and operations of the Spirit of promise, by whom we are sealed. He himself seemed to allude to this solemnity when, in the institution of the Lord's supper, he said, This cup is the New Testament (or covenant) in my blood. Compare with this, Heb. 9:19, 20.

Exd 24:9-11

The people having, besides their submission to the ceremony of the sprinkling of blood, declared their well-pleasedness in their God and his law, again and again, God here gives to their representatives some special tokens of his favour to them (for God meets him that rejoices and works righteousness), and admits them nearer to him than they could have expected. Thus, in the New-Testament church, we find the four living creatures, and the four and twenty elders, honoured with places round the throne, being redeemed unto God by the blood of the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne, Rev. 4:4, 6; 5:8, 9. Observe,

1. They saw the God of Israel (v. 10), that is, they had some glimpse of his glory, in light and fire, though they saw no manner of similitude, and his being no man hath seen nor can see, 1 Tim. 6:16. They saw the place where the God of Israel stood (so the Septuagint), something that came near a similitude, but was not; whatever they saw, it was certainly something of which no image nor picture could be made, and yet enough to satisfy them that God was with them of a truth. Nothing is described but that which was under his feet; for our conceptions of God are all below him, and fall infinitely short of being adequate. They saw not so much as God's feet; but at the bottom of the brightness, and as the footstool or pedestal of it, they saw a most rich and splendid pavement, such as they never saw before nor after, as it had been of sapphires, azure or sky-coloured. The heavens themselves are the pavement of God's palace, and his throne is above the firmament. See how much better wisdom is than the precious onyx or the sapphires, for wisdom was from eternity God's delight (Prov. 8:30), and lay in his bosom, but the sapphires are the pavement under his feet; there let us put all the wealth of this world, and not in our hearts.
2. Upon the nobles (or elders) of Israel, he laid not his hand, v. 11. Though they were men, the dazzling splendour of his glory did not overwhelm them; but it was so moderated (Job 26:9), and they were so strengthened (Dan. 10:19), that they were able to bear it. Nay, though they were sinful men, and obnoxious to God's justice, yet he did not lay his punishing avenging hand upon them, as they feared he would. When we consider what a consuming fire God is, and what stubble we are before him, we shall have reason to say, in all our approaches to him, It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
3. They saw God, and did eat and drink. They had not only their lives preserved, but their vigour, courage, and comfort; it cast no damp upon their joy, but rather increased and elevated it. They feasted upon the sacrifice, before God, in token of their cheerful consent to the covenant now made, their grateful acceptance of the benefits of it, and their communion with God, in pursuance of that covenant. Thus believers eat and drink with Christ at his table, Lu. 22:30. Blessed are those that shall eat bread in the kingdom of our Father, and drink of the wine new there.

Exd 24:12-18

The public ceremony of sealing the covenant being over, Moses is called up to receive further instructions, which we have in the following chapters.

I. He is called up into the mount, and there he remains six days at some distance. Orders are given him (v. 12): Come up to the mount, and be there, that is, "Expect to continue there for some considerable time.' Those that would have communion with God must not only come to ordinances, but they must abide by them. Blessed are those that dwell in his house, not that merely call there. "Come up, and I will give thee a law, that thou mayest teach them.' Moses taught them nothing but what he had received from the Lord, and he received nothing from the Lord but what he taught them; for he was faithful both to God and Israel, and did neither add nor diminish, but kept close to his instructions. Having received these orders,
- 1. He appointed Aaron and Hur to be as lords-justices in his absence, to keep the peace and good order in the congregation, v. 14. The care of his government he would leave behind him when he went up into the mount, that he might not have that to distract his mind; and yet he would not leave the people as sheep having no shepherd, no, not for a few days. Good princes find their government a constant care, and their people find it a constant blessing.
- 2. He took Joshua up with him into the mount, v. 13. Joshua was his minister, and it would be a satisfaction to him to have him with him as a companion, during the six days that he tarried in the mount, before God called to him. Joshua was to be his successor, and therefore thus he was honoured before the people, above the rest of the elders, that they might afterwards the more readily take him for their governor; and thus he was prepared for service, by being trained up in communion with God. Joshua was a type of Christ, and (as the learned bishop Pearson well observes) Moses takes him with him into the mount, because without Jesus, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, there is no looking into the secrets of heaven, nor approaching the glorious presence of God.
- 3. A cloud covered the mount six days, a visible token of God's special presence there, for he so shows himself to us as at the same time to conceal himself from us. He lets us know so much as to assure us of his presence, power, and grace, but intimates to us that we cannot find him out to perfection. During these six days Moses staid waiting upon the mountain for a call into the presence-chamber, v. 15, 16. God thus tried the patience of Moses, and his obedience to that command (v. 12), Be there. If Moses had been tired before the seventh day (as Saul, 1 Sa. 13:8, 9), and had said, What should I wait for the Lord any longer? he would have lost the honour of entering into the cloud; but communion with God is worth waiting for. And it is fit we should address ourselves to solemn ordinances with a solemn pause, taking time to compose ourselves, Ps. 108:1.
II. He is called up into a cloud on the seventh day, probably on the sabbath day, v. 16. Now,
- 1. The thick cloud opened in the sight of all Israel, and the glory of the Lord broke forth like devouring fire, v. 17. God, even our God, is a consuming fire, and so he was pleased to manifest himself in the giving of the law, that, knowing the terrors of the Lord, we may be persuaded to obey, and may by them be prepared for the comforts of the gospel, and that the grace and truth which come by Jesus Christ may be the more acceptable.
- 2. The entrance of Moses into the cloud was very wonderful: Moses went into the midst of the cloud, v. 18. It was an extraordinary presence of mind which the grace of God furnished him with by his six day's' preparation, else he durst not have ventured into the cloud, especially when it broke out in devouring fire. Moses was sure that he who called him would protect him; and even those glorious attributes of God which are most terrible to the wicked the saints with a humble reverence rejoice in. He that walks righteously, and speaks uprightly, is able to dwell even with this devouring fire, as we are told, Isa. 33:14, 15. There are persons and works that will abide the fire, 1 Co. 3:12, etc., and some that will have confidence before God.
- 3. His continuance in the cloud was no less wonderful; he was there forty days and forty nights. It should seem, the six days (v. 16) were not part of the forty; for, during those six days, Moses was with Joshua, who did eat of the manna, and drink of the brook, mentioned, Deu. 9:21, and while they were together it is probable that Moses did eat and drink with him; but when Moses was called into the midst of the cloud he left Joshua without, who continued to eat and drink daily while he waited for Moses's return, but thenceforward Moses fasted. Doubtless God could have said what he had now to say to Moses in one day, but, for the greater solemnity of the thing, he kept him with him in the mount forty days and forty nights. We are hereby taught to spend much time in communion with God, and to think that time best spent which is so spent. Those that would get the knowledge of God's will must meditate thereon day and night.

Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Exodus » Chapter 24